Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

I'm sorry for my absence, but between work and real life, I haven't had much time for writing. I'm working on the next two chapters as we speak, as well as the next one for My Happily Ever After, which will be the last chapter. As for The Auction, I feel like it will be winding down soon, but not too soon. I would say about 4 or 5 more chapters to go. Hell, maybe more than that if I find some more inspiration. ;)

Hope you enjoy! :)

EPOV

The weeks passed by in a blur while in Bella's presence, and the school year was finally over. My siblings had rather reluctantly walked for graduation, and Emmett vowed it was the last time in at least a decade.

Our relationship had been progressing beautifully and at a steady pace - one that was sufficient for both Bell and I. We had pushed our boundaries - well, my boundaries - and I had learned to reign in the beast. I was no longer afraid of getting close to her, and as a result, our physical relationship had taken a giant leap forward. Though we had mastered that aspect of our budding relationship, I still had yet to dispel Bella's dreams of becoming one of us.

Her one wish was to become one of the family, and I had planned on doing just that some time in the future, but in a less permanent and dark way. I had hoped to marry her, to make her my wife, but my intention was never to turn her.

I had thought about it incessantly since she first brought it up, but the idea of Bella as a vampire was an agonizing thought. I could not see her that way. As appealing as it was to have an unbreakable Bella for all of eternity, I simply could not allow it. She was too pure and innocent for such a life, and though I longed to have her forever, I could not allow my selfishness to win out. I needed to do what was best for her, not me. And what was best was for her to remain human, to have a normal life. Well, as normal as possible with a vampire for a boyfriend, and perhaps, some day, a husband.

Throughout the course of our blossoming relationship she had been dropping small hints here and there at her continued desire to be changed. At night when I would insist she get some sleep, she would yawn and make a comment such as, "Sleep is such a waist. I could get so much done if I didn't have to spend eight hours on sleep." Or, if she would trip or fall she would say. "I'm so clumsy. I wish I were as graceful as you and Alice."

She was about as subtle as Emmett when he wanted to get into Rose's pants, which was not subtle at all, and I knew she was baiting me in order to get into a discussion on the topic. I refused to take that bait. Once we opened that can of worms there would be no going back. I was aware the discussion would not end well and I knew she would be devastated when I told her I would never turn her, ever.

Would it be the end of us? That thought scared me more than the idea of receiving a visit from the Volturi, which is something no vampire wanted. If I ever lost Bella, I would surely break.

We were currently in the backyard, swinging in the hammock under the late afternoon sun, the faint breeze whipping through her hair gently. It was one of the many things we did during our time this summer; either relaxing at my house or spending some quality time in the meadow, just the two of us. It was a blissful summer to say the least.

She was at the moment cuddled into my side as the hammock swung us back and forth, my fingers lightly grazing her upper arm. Her eyes were closed as she hummed in response to the contact of my cool skin on hers, and I smiled. I spent the entire time looking down adoringly at her beautiful face, her pale skin faintly glowing from the soft color she got while out in the minimal sunshine in this town, her lips still plump and pink from our kissing, every now and then turning into a small, content smile. I didn't know what I did in my life to ever deserve such a lovely creature, but I wasn't going to question God's reasoning. I would take this gift; as selfish as that might be.

I was so mesmerized by her beauty that it took me a moment to realize that she was staring up at me. Her lips pulled into a deeper smile as her eyes twinkled in the soft sunshine.

"You're staring, Edward. Didn't anyone ever tell you it's not polite to stare?" Her delicate laughter brought out a smile of my own, the sound more beautiful than any lullaby.

I brushed the back of my hand across the soft skin of her cheek and her skin enflamed at my mere touch. "My apologies, love. I can't help it when I'm with you." I dipped my head to her neck, placing gentle kisses everywhere I could. "I seem to lose all manners where you're concerned," I spoke against her skin, her natural scent filling me up. I would never tire of her.

I heard her breath leave her in a gasp as I continued to lavish her skin, but after only a moment her tiny hands pushed against my stone chest. I pulled back, confused as to her actions. "Something wrong?" I asked, searching her face for an answer.

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and averted her eyes from mine, suddenly interested in the buttons of my shirt. Her nimble fingers began to toy with the top one as her breathing picked up. She was nervous. But why?

"Bella, is something wrong?" I asked again.

She shook her head quickly. "No, nothing's wrong. Not really."

Not really? Well, that was comforting. "Bella, you can tell me," I urged.

Her eyes found mine and she sighed loudly, dropping her hand from my shirt. "I want to talk about you changing me," she said in a rush.

I froze, removing my hands from her body. I was hoping to avoid this topic, for at least a year. When things first started between us, never had I imagined she would want to discuss it so soon. To say that I was floored when she brought it up after only a couple of days into our relationship would have been an understatement. I gazed into her pleading eyes and knew I had no choice but to go through with this. It was time.

I cupped her face in my hand as I traced her face with my eyes. She would no longer blush when she was one of us, a quality that I adored. Her eyes would no longer be the rich brown they were now, but a deep crimson, leaving no room for doubt that she was a vampire. Her skin would be even paler and her heart would no longer beat, proving that she was one of the undead. How could I do that to her simply to keep her with me? She was better than that. She would remain human. I would love her until her dying day, and once she was gone from this earth, I would follow. I knew I would not make it to heaven where she would surely be, but spending an eternity in hell was much more appealing than remaining in this world without her.

Her face suddenly fell and it startled me. "You're not going to change me, are you?" she asked quietly, her eyes suddenly filled with sadness.

"What?"

She turned her gaze from mine, not meeting my eyes any longer. "I can see it on your face. You won't change me."

The hurt in her voice was not lost on me. She tried to keep her voice strong but I could pick up on the small quiver. I had hurt her by denying her this.

"I-I'm sorry, Bella. But I cannot change you."

As she removed herself from my embrace and got off the hammock, the pain of seeing her pull away from me stung like a thousand stabbing knives. She left me in the hammock as she walked further into the yard, her arms crossed over her chest, her back turned towards me. I followed her, not knowing what else to do. I reached out and touched her shoulder and she immediately whirled on me.

"Why?" she asked, a few stray tears inching down her face. "Why won't you change me?"

I reached out and wiped the tears away with the pads of my thumbs. I hated when she cried, and I loathed it even more when she cried because of me. "Bella, this life is not for you. It is vicious and unforgiving. Everyday is a struggle to remain in control of myself. This is not a life at all. You are better than this. You deserve so much more."

"But I want this. I want you. This is my choice, Edward."

I shook my head. "I cannot allow it." I kept my voice gentle but I could tell I had struck a nerve with my words when her eyes narrowed and her arms fell to her sides, hands balling into fists.

"You cannot allow it?" she asked through clenched teeth. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, expelling the breath slowly just before latching her gaze back onto mine. "This isn't your life, Edward. It's mine."

I was caught off guard by her fierce hostility, but I refused to back down from this. "You do not know what you are asking for," I reasoned. "This is not a life to aspire to. We are terrible, murderous creatures who have no regard for human life. We kill at will without the slightest bit of remorse. It is in our nature to prey on the weak."

She shook her head and backed away from my touch, my hands falling to my sides, aching to hold her. "You and your family are different. You're not like the rest. Why are you trying to scare me?"

I sighed and began to pace, a habit I had picked up when Bella entered my life. I ran a hand through my hair, my exasperation rising. "That underlying need to kill and drink human blood still permeates through us. It is never completely gone. It can never be truly mastered. We will always struggle with this lifestyle and I will not condemn you to this fate."

"You don't have to," she said suddenly.

I halted my movements and turned to her, stunned. "What is that supposed to mean?" I searched her eyes and they were hard and steady on mine.

"I'm sure Carlisle will do it, maybe even Alice. You're family agrees with me. You're not the only vampire who can turn me." She wiped at the tears that continued to stream down her face as she straightened her back and stood tall, trying to put forth a strong facade. She refused to go down without a fight. She would not be easily swayed on this matter.

I closed the space between us in a mere second, outraged at her spiteful words. "You would go to my family after I forbade it?" The thought of my family going behind my back like that shot a wave of pure anger through me. They would never dare do such a thing.

She pursed her lips and closed her eyes, taking a steadying breath. Her sweet breath fanned out over my face as she released it and her eyelids fluttered opened. Her eyes burned with a new heat, fierce and unyielding, and it frightened me. The look made me take a step back.

"Forbade it? Forbade it?" she seethed, clearly enraged by my choice of words. "You do not own me, Edward Cullen. This is my life, not yours. I make my own decisions. I make my choices, not you."

My rage boiled within me and I couldn't contain the fire raging inside. "No. I will not change you. And no one else will, either. They know where I stand on the matter and they will not go against me!" I could hear my voice rising with my anger and I couldn't control it much longer. This argument was escalating fast and I couldn't contain it. I couldn't reign in my fury. "My decision is final!"

"But this is what I want," she demanded. "Who are you to make my decisions?"

"No!" I roared, my anger peaking.

Bella took a step back as my voice rose, flinching slightly at the force of that one tiny little word - No. Immediately, I reached out to her, my intention never being to scare her, but she recoiled from my touch.

Dear God, what had I done?

"Don't," she said evenly, her voice emotionless and empty. I had never heard her like that before and it terrified me that she was being so cold toward me. She brought her eyes to mine and all I saw was anger. My refusal had caused that and no amount of groveling was going to fix it. "Alice," she said softly, never breaking our gaze.

Alice was by Bella's side instantly, a pained expression on her usually chipper face. "Yes, Bella?" she asked, her eyes darting from me to her.

This is not good, she thought. Not good at all.

Bella's eyes never left me as she spoke to my sister. "Can you take me home?"

"You're leaving?" I asked frantically. I'm sure if I were human my voice would have cracked dramatically with my rising fear. Alice's thoughts and Bella's cold behavior were sending me into near hysterics.

Bella nodded slowly at me and turned to Alice. "Will you take me home, Alice?"

Alice began to voice her assent when I interrupted. "I'll take you."

She turned back to me, the hurt and anger not dissipating in the slightest from her face. "I can't be around you right now. I need some time to think without you there." She breathed in a ragged breath and shook her head slightly. "The way I'm feeling right now, I don't think you'd want to be around me. You probably wouldn't make it out alive."

She turned away from me then and walked to the garage, not even giving me a kiss goodbye. Alice gave me one long sympathetic look before following in Bella's wake.

She was leaving.

Edward, what have you done? Alice thought as she left me behind.

What had I done?

I raced over to Bella before she reached Alice's Porsche and opened the door for her. "Can I come by later tonight?" I was practically begging, but I didn't care. I would grovel if I had to.

Bella looked up at me and after a moment of intense silence, she nodded resignedly.

"When?" I asked anxiously. I needed to make this up to her. I needed to make things right. Was this what Rosalie meant by tread lightly?

She turned away from me and slipped into the passenger side of the car. Without even sparing me a glance she said, "I'm sure Alice will know when it's safe for you to come over."

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